US artillery pounded Iraq's rebel city of Fallujah on Sunday morning as the US aircraft continued striking insurgents' positions in the city.

US forces pounded positions in the industrial area, which has been the scene of almost daily bombardments, witnesses said.

The US army confirmed in a statement that the US aircraft continued to "degrade and disrupt the anti-Iraqi forces'capabilities by isolating and destroying insurgents in the Fallujah-Ramadi area."

The statement said warplanes had bombed an "enemy mortar bunker"in the southeast side of the city at 4:42 p.m. Saturday (1342 GMT).

"Several insurgents were observed walking back and forth from the bunker to two pickup trucks at the time of the strike. The strike uncovered a tunnel," the statement said.

US Marines have said they were willing to launch a major offensive to flush out insurgents from their strongholds in Fallujah.

Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, remained a top security concern for US and Iraqi officials and was among a list of cities to be retaken from insurgents' hand ahead of the national elections in January.

Source: Xinhua